“Ida?” Cynthia said. I don’t know about preaching, but she did want to write a book about southern ways.”
Sister Candy beamed. “Well there you go. I knew this would work out. Some things are just meant to be.”
Chapter 14
With blue skies overhead and the Mississippi calm as a puddle, Quaid cut the engines and guided the Annabelle Lee to the O’Fallon dock. He tossed the lines to Hank who tied off the tow, the Sea Ray bobbing to starboard. Rory sauntered out of the office, Bonnie on his shoulder. “Mighty sweet cruiser you got there, boy. Newest purchase?”
“Salvage. Seems the guys from last night’s events never came back; they abandoned her. I paid the dock fee in Memphis to get her out of hock, then did a quick patch job to get her this far. She needs work, the engine’s screwed up from the river water, but nothing we can’t handle. We needed a chase boat with muscle, now we got it.”
“Well, this one is a humdinger.” He slapped Quaid on the back. “Guess I’ll know where to find you today, sweating over the engine.” He nodded to the gravel road. “And here comes your helper. I think you and Lawrence have a bond.”
“That kid’s a hell of a lot smarter than I’ll ever be.”
Rory laughed, “You and everybody else on the planet. But he’s still a kid. Hard to remember that when he’s talking like some college professor. I better get Sweet Pea some juice, she’s getting fussy and none of us want this baby fussy…Lord have mercy if that happens. Since you’re hanging around here today, I’ll mosey on up to Hastings House. See how my repairs are holding together.”
Rory said hey to Lawrence, then headed back to the office with Hank. Quaid said, “You’re sure looking happy for a kid with a bum arm.”
Lawrence held it up, grinning. “All the kids signed it. They thought it was neat that I was in the papers.” Lawrence stopped, his face suddenly paling. “What’s the Sea Ray doing here? Are…are those guys back?”
“No way, those men have no reason to come after you. But it looks like the boat’s ours. Someone who saves a vessel in peril has a preferred maritime lien on that vessel if it goes unclaimed. So far those guys haven’t shown up.”
“Ours?”
“You helped save her, didn’t you? Guess that gives you a right, if you help fix her up.”
Lawrence scuffed his shoe against the dock. “Except Mom’s sending me away to school.”
“You don’t want to go?”
“The guys think I’m cool now, and that’s good. And I sort of met this girl at the market, Katelyn Moore, when Mom was shopping for vegetables. Mom’s making me soup, says it’ll make my mending bones stronger.” He made a face. “She’s a great Mom, but she really sucks at cooking.”
Quaid sat on one of the pilings as gulls swooped and dragonflies darted about. “Girl?”
Lawrence reddened, ear to ear. “She…she has a telescope up in her attic and there’s an eclipse coming up.”
“And she smells good and has pretty silky hair and soft eyes?”
Lawrence’s jaw dropped as his eyes nearly popped. “You know her?”
Quaid put his hand on Lawrence’s shoulder and bit back a grin. “That’s the way all girls are and they turn guys like us to putty.”
“Are you putty over Mom?”
Oh, hell! Did Lawrence see him with Cynthia last night? How could he talk his way out of that one? “Why do you ask?”
A sly grin played at Lawrence’s mouth. “A question answered with a question. Lawyers do that when they have something to hide.”
Having a smart kid around was good and not so good. “I’m not exactly a putty kind of guy but—”
“Mom says you’re a hottie. I’m not exactly sure what a hottie is but I don’t think it has anything to do with temperature and more to do with men and women and sex. So, does this mean you’re going to marry my mom? If you are, that’s okay with me, but can you hurry up and do it so you can talk her out of sending me to boarding school?”
“I think I’m being played.”
Lawrence grinned. “Maybe a little. And now we own a boat together so I really can’t leave here. I’ll get a life jacket and we’ll start fixing her up. Let’s change the name of the boat from Moneymaker to Cynthia. Maybe that will soften Mom up.”
Quaid laughed. “You really think so?”
“No, but it’s worth a try.” Lawrence climbed onboard the Sea Ray but Quaid didn’t move for a second, considering what Lawrence said about the marriage thing. Lawrence knew something was going on between Quaid and his mom and that didn’t feel right. It didn’t feel honorable. Oh, he and Cynthia cared for each other but fooling around with Lawerence so aware just didn’t seem like the right thing to do. What kind of message did that send to an impressionable kid? So now what? Give up Cynthia just when things were going good? Dang!
By late afternoon, as he and Lawrence sat under a river maple on the dock drinking RC Cola and eating MoonPies, Quaid made up his mind to take the plunge and make things right…least try to. He took another drink of cola and said, “This is what’s known as Tennessee cuisine.”
“In New York my favorites are cannoli down in Little Italy and the noodle shops in Chinatown.”
Quaid reached in his pocket, took out a Swiss army knife and handed it to Lawrence. “Rory gave it to me, used to be his, and his dad gave it to him. I’ll teach you how it works when your arm’s better. How to keep it oiled and how to use it without losing body parts.”
Lawrence looked at him with huge eyes. “It’s an heirloom and you’re giving it to me?”
“Can’t think of a better person. You were one brave kid out there on the water yesterday. But you got to promise me not to mess with it till you can use both hands. Think of it now as a good luck charm.”
“Did you have it with you yesterday?”
Quaid grinned and ruffled his hair. “You bet. Made us both lucky.”
Preston strolled down the dock, hands stuffed in his khaki shorts, sporting a red and yellow floral shirt today. He stopped and laughed. “Bet you two had to work really hard to get this dirty.”
Lawrence beamed. “But we fixed the engine. As soon as we get the hull patched we’ll take her for a spin. Want to come with us?”
“You bet. But now it’ll have to wait for dinner. Your mom made soup and sent me to get you. I tried to tell her I’d do the cooking but she insisted. Been chopping and simmering all day I think we can feed the whole Landing if we wanted to.”
Quaid stopped mid-chew. “Uh-oh, I forgot about the soup.”
Lawrence licked his thumb. “I didn’t, but this stuff has vegetables beat by a mile.” He stood. “I’ll wash up in the office to get rid of the evidence.”
When he took off, Preston took Lawrence’s place. “How is he?”
“Good, but still afraid. Hear anything about our missing presidents?”
“Nothing here or in Memphis. They vanished and with good reason.”
“Demar thinks Jett is connected to these guys.”
“But how and which one and why?”
“We have a hunch on which one, and you’re going to love this.”
“Beau Fontaine of the Charleston Fontaines, right?”
“How’d you know? There are strangers all around with the new construction going on.”
“The accent comes and goes and he can’t cook for beans. What kind of guy wants to open a restaurant and doesn’t know how to cook, at least a little? He knows good food well enough but on preparation he’s clueless. And since I look eccentric and harmless he can’t see beyond that. It never occurred to Mr. Fontaine that I know exactly who he is. Magnum is a great cover.” Preston gave a half smile, the look in his eyes more shrewd than Quaid realized before.
Preston took a MoonPie from the box and cracked open the wrapper. “Lawrence is right, these are better than vegetable soup. I’m thinking we should shuttle the boy between us. The bad guys are ruthless. If they’re willing to toss a kid overboard and kidnap a baby they’re capab
le of anything, and right now we have no idea where they are.”
Lawrence headed off with Preston, and Quaid finished the last of his RC, then went back to work on the engine.
The sinking sun glared through the cockpit door, casting long shadows across the salon and into the engine room, and then suddenly there were no shadows. “You fed my son marshmallow crap and cola for dinner? Men have died for less, O’Fallon.”
He wiped his hands on a rag and came out into the living area.
“Well?” she growled.
Well, hell! Shorts, sandals, hair piled on top of her head with strands falling, giving her a sexy look. Fresh as summer lemonade on the front porch. “We named the boat for you, that’s got to count for something.”
“Like a bribe to keep Lawrence here and not at boarding school? He already tried that and…and do you always work without a shirt on?”
“It’s hot in here, generator still broken. So, did the bribe work?”
She let out a long breath. “He has friends now, even a girlfriend. Katelyn. Good grief, he’s eight. I am not ready for a Katelyn. And did you have to give him a knife?” She set a basket on the counter then faced him and held up her hands in surrender. “I know, I know. This is not the city and boys do boy things here, and he did pinky swear he wouldn’t mess with it till you showed him how.”
“And I believe him.”
Cynthia looked him in the eyes. “And I do too. I had my first sharp scissors for cutting material when I was seven, so I can’t complain too much.”
He grinned and so did she, as if thankful for this precious time, with no one drowning, no ex’s to get rid of, no immediate confrontations. A perfect moment that just sort of happened out of the blue, when the world turned a little slower, felt a bit mellower, a lot happier. There weren’t a lot of those moments and Quaid appreciated the ones that came his way. All because of Cynthia Landon.
“But you are still not off the hook, buster. I brought soup, a huge pot, because there’s a ton left over and you get to eat it all since Lawrence is full of junk food and I don’t know what to do with it.”
“I wanted to introduce him to the good things of Tennessee.”
Her blue eyes softened, her lips melted into a sweet smile as she gazed at him. “Well, that happened when he met you.”
The world stopped a beat, Quaid was sure of it. “You didn’t have to say that.”
“And I wouldn’t have said it if I didn’t truly mean it.” She smiled, then turned to the cabinets and tried to open a door. “I take it there are bowls for the soup on this yacht, Lawrence says it has everything, that the Cynthia is yare. I think he’s been watching old movies again.” She pulled again. “What’s wrong with this?”
Quaid came up behind her, inhaling her breezy scent, drinking in her sweetness, blown away by what she just said, his heart swelling. He unsnapped the catch and whispered in her ear…she had the prettiest ears. “It’s too hot for soup.”
He kissed her neck, a little moan escaped her lips, and his plans for honor waned.
“And it’s getting hotter,” she said on a sigh that tore right through him as a gentle rock of the boat tucked her body against his.
“I’m still mad at you over the sugar and the bribe.” She turned in his arms and faced him—eyes misty, smile a little devilish. “But I think I’m getting over it.” She unsnapped her shorts. “You have great powers of persuasion, especially with your shirt off. And I bet there’s something more comfortable around here than a Victorian sofa.”
His honor crumbled. Having Cynthia overwhelmed him completely. “We’ll have fun finding out. Right now I need a shower.” His fingers connected with hers at her waistband and he unzipped the shorts the rest of the way. “Wanna join me? I have to warn you, the head is really small.”
She cupped his dick through his jeans, the pressure arousing him all the more. “Guess we’re not talking about the same head.” She claimed his mouth in a convincing kiss as her fingers worked his belt buckle. He unbuttoned her blouse and inched the two of them back toward the tiny bathroom, leaving her blouse, then her bra in their wake. His jeans slipped over his hips, her shorts dropped and she kicked them aside. A sandal landed on the counter with a soft thud, another one bounced off the table. He discarded his own shoes, not breaking the kiss, then flipped on the water in the tiny stall. “I love us both naked,” he said against her lips.
“We have underwear.”
“I hate underwear.” He peeled down pink panties, taking his time, savoring the view. He removed his briefs. “Now I love us both naked.”
“I love seeing you aroused.”
“You show up and that’s what happens every time.”
Her fingers closed around him. “To think I’m responsible for this is pretty powerful stuff, Quaid O’Fallon.”
“Let’s find out just how powerful.” He backed her into the confined shower, sliding the door shut behind them, the cool drops a welcome relief from an August inferno coupled with the one they created on their own.
He took the clip from her golden hair as the droplets trickled over her face and off the edge of her chin. “This is very cozy.”
His hands slid down her back, his fingers massaging the indent of her spine, and he cupped the smooth twin mounds of her derriere, pulling her into him. Her legs parted as their bodies met, his erection cuddled against her navel. He grabbed a soap-on-a-rope from a little bracket overhead.
“Smells expensive,” she said as he lathered, the sensual odor filling the little area as he gently smoothed suds across her shoulders, over her breasts, down her middle. “You’re teasing me.”
“I’m loving you.” His hand slipped to the juncture of her legs.
“Not fair,” she said through clenched teeth. “I want the soap.”
“But I’m not finished.” He hooked it over her head, the rope dropping between her breasts. He took her hands and slid them between their bodies, then to his mouth, kissing one palm then the other, then lifted her hands over her head, holding them both in one of his.
Her eyes rounded in surprise, her cheeks pinked. “Oh this is really not fair.”
“I want to look at you uninterrupted, and you keep interrupting.” He ran his finger down her middle and she squirmed.
“You think because you’re stronger and bigger you can get away with this, turn me on and I don’t get to do anything to you?”
He kissed her. “Yep, that’s pretty much the plan. And you can’t retaliate against a man with a bruised rib. That wouldn’t be sporting.” He fondled one nipple, making it hard, then the other. “I think you like this.”
Her eyes clouded. “Quaid,” she whispered. “This is too much.”
“But there’s more, sweetheart. Lots more. We’re just getting started.” His fingers slid into the tight curls between her legs. “Do you want me to touch you?”
She whined, “If I ever get out of this I’m going to torture you, tantalize you, messed up ribs or not.” She whimpered as he slowly slipped his fingers in, her hips rolling into him, wanting more.
“I love making you feel good.” The water slowed, trickled then stopped. “Dang.”
Her eyes fluttered. “Wh…what happened? Things were just getting good.”
“We used all the water in the holding tank. This isn’t the Hilton.” Reluctantly he let her hands go and slid his fingers out. As she grabbed his shoulders. “You have me so turned on my teeth ache.”
He wedged from the shower stall and found big white towels, thick as a rug, in the cabinet under the sink. He handed one to her then reached back for another till something stopped him…tightening around his wrist. He yanked.
“What the…?”
In a split second she grabbed his other wrist and secured both behind his back, then turned him around in the little space, backing him into the little sink, grinding her middle against his erection. “Revenge.”
“How’d you do that?”
“Soap on a rope, and you’re n
ot the only one with clever fingers, Quaid O’Fallon. Seamstresses tie knots all the time.” She gave him a siren’s smile. “Oh, this is going to be fun.”
He struggled. “What if something happens? I need to be able to take care of you.”
“Oh for God’s sake, I am forty. Lived all these years without you, I can manage another ten minutes.” She kissed him, slipping him her tongue. “That’s all the time we’re going to last here, if that, and quit struggling or you’ll hurt yourself more. Just relax.”
He pulled for all he was worth, his ribs aching, not caring. When the wet slippery rope gave, he relaxed. He’d let her have her fun and enjoy it too. If he needed to get his hands free, he could. Whether she realized it or not, that’s what Cynthia counted on. He took care of her and Lawrence, kept them safe. What else would draw someone like Cynthia Landon to Quaid O’Fallon? He took her trust seriously.
Cynthia studied Quaid just as he’d done her. “You’re all wet. I’ll have to fix that.”
She dried his face, his shoulders then his front, reviving the tight curls of hair across his pecs. His solar plexus flexed as she dried him in long, slow strokes, then she hunkered down.
“Legs…I have to dry your…legs.” She licked his penis and he sucked in a quick breath. “That is not my leg.”
“It needed attention. It looked lonely.” She dried one leg then angled for the other. “Next time we do this it’s in a big huge bathroom with air conditioning and—” She cracked her head on the sink.
“Ouch.”
“Dammit, are you okay?”
“Yes, but I need consolation.” And she took his erection into her mouth.
“Cynthia!” he hissed her name and every inch of him stiffened. She licked him, making him harder still, then she took all his length again, faster, holding him tighter between her lips, loving the sensation of pleasing him.
“I never did this kind of thing with Aaron.” She looked up at him and winked. “You’re my first. I think I like it, least with you I do.”
I’ll Be Seeing U Page 18